Entrenched in what she calls a “dumpster fire” amid her fight to conduct the voter-approved legislative audit, Diana DiZoglio says she is not focused on future political aspirations beyond state auditor.
DiZoglio is also not budging on whether she will endorse Maura Healey for reelection, arguing that the governor has not spoken with her for over a year and a half.
The auditor voiced her stances during an appearance on WCVB Channel 5’s “On The Record” that aired Sunday, just days after the state House approved a bill that would block her from auditing the Legislature’s “constitutional functions.”
DiZoglio said she thanks people for their “vote of confidence” when they suggest that she pursue higher political aspirations, beyond the state auditor’s office, but that isn’t her plan for now.
“I will say this: My focus is entirely on getting reelected to the state auditor’s office – I hope to have your vote – and passing the public records reform ballot question,” the auditor said. “We need to stay focused, and we cannot allow distractions to occur with considering this, considering that. We have work to do.”
Public records reform is a top priority that DiZoglio has stood on for months, as she has been blocked for over 19 months from conducting the audit of the state Legislature that 72% of voters approved in November 2024.
The ballot question, she referred to on Sunday, would expand the state public records law to include the Legislature.
Tension between DiZoglio and the Legislature, particularly Speaker Ron Mariano, continues to increase after the House of Representatives approved a so-called transparency bill in a 125-28 vote last week.
The bill would allow DiZoglio to audit the administrative functions of both the House and Senate, but not their “constitutional functions.” The Senate still needs to greenlight it, and then Healey would decide whether to sign it into law.
The legislation would only allow an audit of the limited records the Supreme Judicial Court outlined in its recent order – the adoption of the official budget by both chambers, expenditures, joint legislative operations, and monetary settlement agreements, all dating back to 2021.
“This is something that is completely bogus on every front,” DiZoglio said. “They’re saying that this just limits the audit. No, what this does is it gives the Speaker full control over the audit, like he’s wanted this entire time.”
During DiZoglio’s “On The Record” segment, WCVB aired a clip of Mariano speaking in the House debate last week, saying, “As a result of this legislation, the auditor will be able to conduct the audit.”
“That is completely false,” DiZoglio said. “We cannot call something an audit when the entity that we’re auditing is controlling and calling the shots about what they’re going to give us and not give us.”
DiZoglio also ripped Mariano over how the bill would bar the courts from adjudicating any future disputes regarding access to public records, instead establishing a “dispute resolution process” to avoid “endless and costly litigation.”
Original article
Comments